Attachment for internal-combustion engines



May 1, 1923.

W. W. WHETSTINE ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 20, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ay 1, 1923. 1,453,560 w. w. WHETSTINE ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 2Q. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented ay 1, 1923.

WALTER w. wnnrs'rms, or PORTLAND, OREGON.

ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed August 20, 1920. Serial No. 404,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, WALTER W. WHET- s'rmn, a citizen of the United States, re- Sidin at Portland, in the county of Multnoma and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to internal combustion engines, and particularly to the fuel supply means thereof.

The objects of my invention are: first, to reduce the gasoline or petroleum oil content of internal combustion engine fuel in. the interest of economy by providing a means whereby a portion of the exhaust gases are taken from the exhaust line and diffused with and made a part of the ordinary engine fuel heating the latter to increase its combustibility; second, to provide a means whereby liquids such as glycerin contained in the reservoir of my device may be volatilized and with moisture taken from the cooling system of the motor be made a constituent of the engine fuel; and third,

to eliminate carbon formation and deposits in the engine by providing a means for producing and supplying an engine fuel which leaves no trace of carbon in the motoe, thereby increasing its operative efficiency.

From the description to follow, other objects and advantages will become apparent and will be specifically pointed out and referred to in the claims hereto appended.

For a clear understanding of my invention and the manner in which .it operates reference should be had to the several drawings of the mechanism illustrated by which I attain these objects, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a conventional type of automobile engine and radiator showing my invention attached thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the reservoir thereof;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the water vapor controlling valve and strainer thereof; and

Figure 1 is a view of the exhaust gas valve and ressure distributing or regulating tank 0 my device, certain portions being broken away to show the valve and tank construction.

ing the engine, B the-exhaust line therefrom, I

C the intake manifold thereof, D the radiator, and E-the carbureter.

F rom-the radiator D, I run a tube. 1 having provided at convenient points therein a strainer 2 and a cut-off valve 3. I provide a reservoir 4:, having a, removable cap 5 to allow for filling, the flow of liquid therefrom being controlled by needle valve 6 in which the needle rod 7, terminating in handle 8, is adapted to be rotated to open and close said valve. Liquid when released from said reservoir flows into tube 9, said tube being joined to tube 1 at 10.

I also provide a chamber 11 which I call a pressure regulator or distributor tank, into which gases are carried from exhaust line B by means of a tube 12, said tube being provided with a regulating valve '13 which may be placed at any convenient point therein. Leading from the pressure regulator tank the exhaust gases are conveyed by means of a tube 14 which is joined by tube 1 at 15 to a T-joint 16, from which pipes 17 and 17' lead into the intake manifold C, connections therewith being indicated by 18 the combined strainers and control valves 19 similar in form to that shown in Figure 3 being located at some suitable point in said tubes.

Having given a brief description of the mechanical structure of my invention, I will now describe 'its several parts, their functions, and the manner of their operation. Water vapor from the radiator D passing through tube 1 mingles with the liquid supplied from reservoir 4:. Glycerin which I have used in my apparatus with I marked success, as hereinafter indicated, is volatilized by heat in the presence of moisture.

The exhaust gases after passing throu h pressure regulating tank 11 and into tu e 14 come into contact with the water and glycerin vapors from tube 1 at 15 from whence the several gases, highly heated and thoroughly intermingled, pass into the in take manifold of the engine, there difi'using with the %seous fuel supplied from the carburetor After ignition in .the engine cylinders the burned gases pass out through the exhaust line B, a portion to be used again after the manner before described.

The flow of exhaust gases into the pressure regulator tank is intermittent with the gasoline required in an ordinary engine has been materially lessened, in fact, the more 7 cylinders in the engine, the greater the proportionate reduction in gasoline consumption. Carbon deposits have been entirely eliminated by the use of glycerin in this manner.

- Moisture which is introduced primarily to aid in the volatilization of the glycerin employed tends to promote fuel efiectiveness by aiding in the reduction of the amount of gasoline or petroleum oil required while not reducing the explosive force of the fuel.

While the drawings hereto appended illustrate theprefcrred embodiment of my device, I do not limit myself to the specific structure therein shown for many modifications and changes within the scope of the claims are to be resorted to.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having a conventional fuel intake means andexhaust'discharge means, of a reservoir adapted to contain glycerin, moisture sup ly means for supplying moisture to the g ycerin, means connecting said exhaust discharge means with the fuel intake means, and means connecting said glycerin reservoir with the connecting means between the exhaust discharge means and the fuel intake means whereby glycerin is volatilized and introduced into the explosive mixture passin. to the firing chamber.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine having conventional fuel intake means, exhaust discharge means, moisture producing means, and carburetting means, or means for connecting said exhaust discharge means and moisture producing means with said fuel intake means, a reservoir adapted to contain glycerin, and means reeaseo connecting said reservoir with the aforesaid connecting means whereby the glycerin is volatilized and difiused with the exhaust gases, water vaporand the explosive fuel in the firing chambert 3. The combination with an internal combustion engine having fuel intake means, water cooling means, and exhaust means, of a reservoir adapted to contain glycerin, a conduit intermediate said exhaust discharge means and said fuel intake means, and a con-. duit connecting the'water cooling means and glycerin reservoir with the conduit from the exhaust discharge means, whereby to mix the vapor from the water cooling 'means.

with the g1 cerin and subject the mixture to the heat of the exhaust gases to volatilize the same and introduce the product into the fuel entering the intake means.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine having fuel intake means, water cooling means, and exhaust discharge means, of-a conduit intermediate said exhaust discharge means and said fuel intake means, a conduit intermediate said water cooling means and the conduit first named, a reservoir adapted to contain glycerin, connecting means between said glycerin reservoir and the conduit last named, and means adapted to regulate the flow of glycerin into sai connecting means. 7

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine having fuel intake means, exhaust discharge means, and water cooling means, of a reservoir adapted to contain glycerimmeans to regulate the flow of glycerin from said reservoir, a conduit to recelve said gl cerin as it flows from the reservoir, a chem r to receive exhaust gases, a conduit inteediate said exhaust discharge means and said chamber, a conduit intermediate said chamber and'said fuel intake means, and a conduit intermediate. said water cooling stem and the conduit last mentioned to w ich the conduit for glycerin is connected.

6. The combination bumion engine having fuel intake and exhaust discharge means for the fuel, and carburetting means, of an attachment comprising glycerine supply means, means for supplying moisture for admixture with the glycerine, and means connecting the engine exhaust means and fuel intake for sub ectin-g the gl cerine and admixed moisture to the heat 0 the exhaust gases to volatilize the glycerine and convey said volatilized prodnets to the intake means for admixture with the carbureted fnei.

In testimony whereof ii a m :2 nature.

W LT W- Eii l KNEQ with an internal com- 

